Cover A dramatic cut-out frames the view into the dry bar, where warm cove lighting and curated shelves invite intimate moments of relaxation and conversation by LA Design Studio
A dramatic cut-out frames the view into the dry bar, where warm cove lighting and curated shelves invite intimate moments of relaxation and conversation by LA Design Studio
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LA Design Studio turns this Singapore apartment into an opulent yet restful haven that honours the sensory appeal of raw materials, biophilic elements and evocative brutalism
When something stands in the way of your vision, you can either fight the circumstances, or you can embrace the challenge and turn it into something remarkable. LA Design Studio’s Adeline Lim, the lead designer behind the lush interiors featured here, found herself at this crossroads when the homeowners requested an open-concept living room and bar area, despite the presence of an immovable, and rather sizeable, structural column.
“We turned this limitation into an opportunity,” declares Lim. Together with the LA Design Studio team, she turned the troublesome column into the central highlight of the common areas, “emphasising its character and texture”. The team drew inspiration from its structural importance—“being the key element that supports the entire house”—leaning on this as the foundation for the design concept.
Don’t miss: Meet Lim Thong, the founder of luxury interior design firm LA Design Studio
Designed for entertaining, the open-plan layout transitions seamlessly from living to leisure, anchored by warm lighting and expressive furniture
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Raw luxury
“The idea was to symbolise strength and value by wrapping the column in concrete, with a portion intentionally hacked away to reveal the inner layer,” Lim explains. “The design of the column mimics a gold bar encased in rock, evoking the act of mining hidden treasure.”
In the early stages, the team experimented with plasterboard to achieve a raw, exposed look for the edges, but found the results unsatisfactory. “Ultimately, we opted for a rough composite material layered with cement, successfully recreating the dramatic broken wall effect and bringing our vision to life.”
This central column in the common areas is not the only element in the interiors that was carefully tailored for the homeowners. In fact, Lim tells us that designing bespoke pieces for the apartment was the most fulfilling aspect of the project, often incorporating innovative materials and fabrication methods instead of relying on off-the-shelf furniture with a more predictable finish. Some of these custom pieces include the natural granite coffee table and TV console, crafted to align with the spirit of the statement column.
“We experimented by breaking a full granite slab into smaller pieces and joining the raw edges to form the coffee table’s housing,” Lim shares. “This was then wrapped in an oxidised, brushed finish, showcasing the imperfections [inherent to] natural materials.”
The homeowners’ appreciation for brutalism and raw, unrefined beauty allowed the team this freedom to experiment, giving the apartment a unique charm.
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Designed for entertaining, the open-plan layout transitions seamlessly from living to leisure, anchored by warm lighting and expressive furniture
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Elevating the senses
Like the statement column in the living area, the divider in the home’s private zone forms the focal point of its surroundings. Conceptualised as a glass-enclosed biophilic display that demarcates the bedroom and walk-in wardrobe as separate yet interconnected spaces, it elevates the ambience with sensory impact.
“This design came with its own set of challenges as we needed to maximise storage,” Lim recounts. “To balance the requirements, we worked half-height storage into the space beneath the display.”
The team furthermore incorporated a dimmable artificial skylight, paired with cove lighting and the thoughtful integration of preset scenes and lighting schedules, orchestrating gradual morning illumination in the bedroom for a gentle start to the day. Other areas of the apartment are illuminated with equal care and consideration. “Rather than relying heavily on direct lighting, we focused on creating the right atmosphere with predominantly indirect lighting, thereby fostering a serene and relaxing environment,” Lim elaborates.
In the living area, another smart lighting schedule was implemented, gradually dimming the room to accommodate a soft transition into the evening. When it’s time to head to the bedroom, ceiling lights in the style of a star-studded night sky accompany the homeowners along the corridor, lulling them to sleep with dreams of stargazing and faraway galaxies.
Head down to the LA Design Studio showroom at 22 Sin Ming Lane, #02-75 Midview City and check out their Instagram page here.
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